Mommy's Daily Chores and Weekly Rotations

Last Wednesday I talked about my children's chores (see HERE), and so this week I wanted to talk about my part of the chores!

I've said here before that I have issues with being OCD about the cleanliness of my house...and I don't say that lightly.  It really is a struggle for me to let go of my control when it comes to messes and tidiness.

So when I developed a cleaning schedule, it wasn't because it would never get done...it was because that was ALL that was getting done and I'd sacrifice playing with my kids for various housekeeping tasks.

I didn't used to clean every day, but I would often find myself panicking that something needed dusted, vacuumed or swept.  And the NEED was really just me over-reacting about a small mess my critical eye would spot!

Then I got a breath of fresh air, when I read a series of posts my MOMYS friend, Amy (check here, here and here!).  She presented the idea that she doesn't think "fly by the seat of your pants" is God's design...even when it comes to cleaning...because He is a God of timing and order... who orchestrated creation in seven specific days (along with seasons, a rising/setting sun, etc).

Before reading her post, I had some daily activities I did, but now I actually have a system!  It now looks like this:
Everyday Chores
-Dinner Prep
-Weekly Cleaning Activity (see below)
-Daily Focus Area (see below)
-Laundry Maintain (daily keeping up with loading, switching and folding laundry)

Weekly Cleaning Schedule:
Monday--Laundry (since I don't do laundry on the weekends, this is my day to catch up and the rest of the week I maintain). 
Tuesday--Dusting (the boys help me with sock on hands!)
Wednesday--Floors: Sweep/Mop
Thursday--Floors: Vacuum
Friday--Bathrooms
Saturday--Ironing/Organizing
Sunday--Rest!
(My husband and I's personal preference is a "clean house" on the weekends, not the beginning of the week...so this schedule helps us to feel like our house is clean come weekend!)

Daily Focus Area:
(Giving attention to each room a day at a time!)
Monday--Bedrooms (wash linens, declutter dressers, check under beds, etc)
Tuesday--Living Room (declutter bookshelves, tables, etc)
Wednesday--Kitchen (clean microwave, oven, fill containers, etc)
Thursday--Dining Room (clean off chairs, reorganize school area, etc)
Friday--Bathrooms (showers, straighten, switch towels, etc)
Saturday--Upstairs (pick up, clean, declutter, etc)
Sunday--Rest!

The way I did my cleaning schedule works SO well for me!  I feel like this saved my life!  I don't get stressed anymore about little "messes" I see, because I can just think to myself, "I'll get to that on...(appointed cleaning day)."  Of course, big, obvious messes (like spills and such) do get cleaned up right away!

When our family was smaller, one cleaning day worked great for me, but these days that just doesn't work very well!  So my house may not be totally clean at one time, but the rotation keeps my house in good, clean, working order!

And since I *LOVE* checklists, I also love when I get all four of my daily chores checked off!

This post is also linked to Real Clean Wednesday (and I'll be guest posting there next week!) and Works For Me Wednesday!

The Lights In The House Go Off And On, Off And On, Off And On...

But it's not the kids fault! So whose fault is it?

Mine. Yep, that's right, it's my fault.

However, there IS a method to this madness! It's a little cleaning tip that I've always used in my house.

To start off though, one thing you gotta know about me is that I struggle with not obsessing over the cleanliness of my house. So I have to be careful how much time and attention I devote to cleaning and picking up.

But that's why a "10 minutes tidy" works great around here for me and the kids! Our twist to the 10 minute tidy is turning the lights on in every room...

Because the only thing I loathe more than a messy room, is a light left on in an empty room!

Here's how it goes...

All the lights in the house go on. Once the room has been picked up (and/or cleaned) after 10 minutes of being at it, the light goes off and we move to another room in the house. And the light STAYS off.

Here's an example: In the mornings, the boys know that they turn off their bedroom light once their beds are made and their clothes are off the floor.  Then and only then, do they turn off their light.  Even if they chose to eat breakfast first, they know their bedroom light needs to be turned out quickly afterwards...but still, they know what a turned out light means...and I'll be checking with them to make sure 1)beds are made 2)clothes are in the hamper.


What helps me with the whole "Light On, Light Off" thing, is if I start to get overwhelmed by the messiness of the current room we're playing in, I can look around, see all the lights off in other rooms and know all is clean (or at least a few rooms are clean)...with the exception our one current room we're in.

Plus, I know at our next 10 minute tidy, which rooms need attention!

The other side of this is, if I sit down at the computer to waste time blog, e-mail or surf, but I see a light on, I know that I should probably give that room a little love before I settle in to computer time!

It works for me!!!  And helps me not to be distracted by messes in other rooms...because sooner or later it will get a 10 minute tidy...if the light is on!  :)


This post is also linked to Real Clean Wednesday.

"Happy Wife" vs. "Spotless House"

These two rivals used to compete fiercely in this house. And what's worse, is that I used to think both of these competitors could win. And in the beginning of my marriage, they usually did, even though there was always a struggle.

After all, I am a complete and total neat freak--to a great fault. And my husband was..well, a guy!  Hence the struggle!

But then came along baby #1. And while it took some intense training, I quickly learned how to still end the day in a nice tie...10 points Happy Wife, 10 points Spotless House.  Everyone is happy.

Then came baby #2 just 18 months later. I was still in the habit of obsessively arranging each and every toy perfectly on the "toy shelf" with each part in it's respected place and all figurines poised perfectly.

So needless to say, the competition really started to pick up then! The house was usually "a horrible wreck" (meaning toys were on the floor and I hadn't vacuumed in 2 days). Before, I had only THOUGHT the battle was fierce. Now it was getting ugly...and so was Happy Wife. Spotless House usually ended up on top most days. I kept wondering...how can I bring this whole thing into balance again? But it was an uphill battle.

Then the bell rang (per say) and the Lord faithfully stepped into my corner and started to do a work in my heart. It was then He showed me a hard, cold Truth that I had been blind to for years. My house had become an idol.

In many ways I was worshiping and valuing a tidy, "showroom" house above all else and the sad part is, I didn't even know it. The physical state of my home was directing my mood and my heart.

I decided something needed to change...and it was my perspective. I needed to start looking at the eternal things and not the temporal ones.

2 Corinthians 4:18, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

It was STRAINING on my eyes, let me tell ya!  I was so used to letting my eyes rest upon the temporary things!  As I changed my focus, it was a difficult but it has been worth it--it's a much prettier view.

So by the time baby #3 came (again, just 18 months after the last baby), I was ready and prepared to do everything I could to make sure "Happy Wife" won every time. I was determined to keep my eyes on the eternal and not the temporal.

There were still definitely days when the gloves came out and fists were flying...But Spotless House and Happy Wife were learning that they didn't have to start every morning (and end every day) in a fight. In other words, I was learning the condition of my home did NOT need to rule my attitude.

So when baby #4 came onto the scene (yes, once again, just 18 months later!) I had really learned to master my flesh. I could logically talk myself into the fact that it's okay if laundry is sitting in the basket not folded, the dining room table hadn't been cleared off and all the linens and pillows in the house are in a pile in the living room for the conventional need of a "landing pad". I was training myself that those things were temporal and did NOT mean Happy Wife went on vacation!

Now that I have 4 little ones, there are often messes left here and there. More times than not there are dishes piled in the sink and laundry is still sitting on the couch waiting to be put away.

But Happy Wife has taken over this house. On most days, our house is still pretty clean and tidy (I'm still working on not obsessing!) but one thing is true...I have finally started to believe and apply what my husband has told me all along,

"I'd rather come home to a happy wife than a spotless house."

And if it's a Happy Wife he wants, I'm determined that Happy Wife is what I'm gonna strive to give him!

Finished At Last?

After 20 minutes here and 20 minutes there (over the past week)...I think my new blog design is finally complete! Thanks to my PR degree, I now love working with Publisher-type programs, so this was really fun for me!

I just didn't expect it to take almost a week to get a new format up! I should have known though, because...

#1~ I'm a perfectionist and I'm a little obsessive when it comes to projects like this.

#2~ I have 4 sweet children who give no gaurentee that nap-time will mean quiet time for me!

So when everyone cooperated at nap times, I went to work! Nap time is usually when I blog anyways, and most of the time I split up one blog entry over 2-3 days because of my need to multi-task! (Except for the nights Ryan is at board meetings or basketball games when I have lots of quiet time to blog--hence all the entries from February!)

But never-the-less, (slowly but surely) I got my blog renovation done!

When I first started the project, I wanted to simplify things. I like things that are practical and simple, like I've said before, so I knew wanted to make it look clean and fresh.

I also wanted to re-think my tag line. "More Excitement Than a Themepark" was fun, but I wanted to stick with the "wheel" theme rather than the themepark theme. Make sense?

So I joked with my husband about using "Jesus Take the Wheel-ers" and then I started teasing I'd just call it "This Is How We Roll"...

But after a long car-ride, listening to Samuel's favorite CD (Fisher Prices, "Things That Go") and answering his request to listen to "The Wheels On the Bus" a billion times, it just made sense to use...
"The Mommy On The Bus Says..."

After all, that's the boys favorite part of the song because I turn around and in a jokingly harsh voice (with a stern face and pointing finger to match) say "SHH, SHH, SHH!!!!" and they laugh and laugh and laugh!

To which Ryan usually follows up with "OKAY EVERYBODY...Whoops! I woke the baby!" In true Veggie Tales style!

As for the colors, those were easily decided...pink and blue for my boys and girls and a little brown to bring it together. Plus the combo is unique which I like!

And last, I just had to decide on the pattern...I had poka dots last time, so decided stripes would be a nice change!

So here it is, the debut of my new, improved blog.

Hope you enjoy the new look!

AND stay tuned for an UPCOMING GIVEAWAY in celebration of my new blog!!!